Chemical Defense in Marine Organisms

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Professor William H. Fenical, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Geochemistry, and Marine Chemistry at the University of California at San Diego, is supported by the Organic Synthesis Program for his studies of chemical defense in marine organisms. Professor Fenical explores the chemical ecology of marine plants and animals in order to expand our knowledge of the sources, types, and reactivities of molecules produced by marine organisms and to explore the natural functions of these molecules in interspecies interactions within marine habitats. Following isolation and structure determination of new bioactive natural products from ascidians, gorgonians, bryozoans, and other marine organisms, the regioselective reactivities and skeletal interrelationships of selected secondary metabolites are explored. This project, emphasizing ecologically relevant testing of pure substances using natural predators, seeks to explore the chemical behaviors of new classes of natural products from marine organisms, to establish the specific roles these compounds play in interspecies interactions, and to define the influence of these organic molecules on the biological composition of tropical marine environments. Marine organisms, both plant and animal, produce an astounding array of organic compounds. With the support of the Organic Synthesis Program, Professor William H. Fenical, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Geochemistry, and Marine Chemistry at the University of California at San Diego, explores the chemical means by which marine organisms effect their defense. Through isolation, structure determination, and testing of molecules produced by various classes of marine organisms. Professor Fenical establishes the nature of the organic molecules used for chemical defense and the influence of these organic molecules on the biological composition of tropical marine environments. In addition, these fundamental studies of marine chemical defense are resulting in the isolation of compounds of potential biomedical and commercial significance, including antiflammatory agents.